Automatic flushing mechanism



J. C. ADELL. AUTOMATIC FLUSHING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1911.

1388,4959, Patented Aug. 23, 1921,

JAMES CLAUDE ADELE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOIVfATIC FLUSHING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented thug. 23, 1Q21,

Application filed January 8, 1917. Serial No. 141,155.

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES CLAUDE ADELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Flushing Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to electrically controlled flushing devices for urinals, toilets and the like and has particular reference to a useful improvement in weight operated circuit closers for use in connection therewith.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, considerable difficulty has always been experienced in connection with flushing devices as used in connection with the class of closets referred to, many complicated and inefficient devices being offered in this line of endeavor. I am aware that weight controlled means has been provided for opening the flushing valve for a closet of the kind referred to, but these devices embody complicated lever mechanisms which, when in actual use, rapidly deteriorate owing to the collection of decomposition products, which eventually result in the complete disorganization of the flushing mechanism, requiring considerable repair or an entirely new installation and which are decidedly unsanitary.

Vith the foregoing difficulty in mind I have devised a weight controlled circuit closer for electrically effecting the flushing of a urinal or the like.

My invention further contemplates and has as an object the provision of a new, improved and economical type of weight operated circuit closer which is effective in operation, is moisture excluding, cheap to manufacture and easily installed.

Other objects and advantages not hereinbefore set forth will appear from the following detailed description and the claims, taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which- The figure illustrates a flushing device in combination with my improved circuit closer, the same being shown in vertical section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar characters of reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout the various views, 10 designates a wall or panel upon which the bowl 11 is .mounted in any suitable manner. The panel or wall 10 extends upwardly from the floor 12, the latter being formed of marble, concrete, or the like.

' A flushing tank 13 is provided, liquid being supplied therefrom by gravity to a flushing pipe 1 1, the latter having a laterally extending portion 15 disposed through a suitable opening in the panel 10, the lateral portion 15 in turn having a vertical section of pipe 16 which passes through the top wall 17 of the bowl 11. An outlet nozzle 18 is arranged within the bowl on the lower end of the section 16 of pipe, said nozzle serving to spray or distribute the liquid within the bowl.

A drain pipe 19 extends from the bottom of the bowl 11 through the panel 10 as at 20 for an obvious purpose.

The supply of liquid from the tank 13 is controlled by a conventional form of valve V, the same having a valve rod 21 extending therefrom, the free end of said rod serving as the core of a solenoid 22. A spring serves to maintain the valve normally in closed position.

The structure shown and described in the foregoing may be varied as desired, my invention residing principally in a new and improved type of weight-operated circuit closing device for completing a circuit to energize the solenoid 22 and open the valve.

The circuit closer of my invention prefer.- ably embodies a platform section 2 1 which may be circular, square, or any desired shape. However, the same is preferably circular and concave-convex in cross section, as will be clearly seen from an inspection of the dra ings. The platform 24: may or maynot be inherently resilient, but it is preferable that the same beflexible or capable of distortion under weight.

To mount the platform section 24L a circular opening 25 is formed in the marble or concrete floor 12, said opening being formed to provide an annular shoulder 26 upon which said platform section is adapted to seat. A water proofing cement or similar adhesive substance 27 is interposed between the peripheral surface of the platform 241 and the wall of the opening 25 so as to permanently retain said platform against displace ment.

The platform section 24 is maintained with the upper surface thereof above that of the floor by means of a semi-elliptical leaf spring 28, the free ends of which rest upon the transverse floor stringers 29 and 30. The spring is normally in intimate contact with the under surface of the platform section 2 1- so that when the section 24 is depressed under weight such depression will be had against the tension of the spring.

The circuit closing elements proper of my invention comprise preferably a pair of flat spring elements 31 and 32 having their remote ends rigidly fastened to the stringers 29 and 30, respectively. The free ends of tl spring members 31 and 82 preferably lie in superposed relation, the lowermost spring member being provided with a contact point 33, and the uppermost spring member being distorted as at 3st to engage an abutment carried by the under surface of the leaf spring 28.

The control circuit consists of the conductors 3G and 37, the same having their free ends connected to the spring arms 31 and 32, respectively. A battery l3, lighting circuit or the like furnishes a source of electrical energy, and the solenoid 22 is interposedin the conductor 8?.

In use a person using the bowl stands upon the platform 2%. The same is immediately depressed against the tension of the spring 28, which movement through the abutment 35 brings the spring arms 31 and 32 into contact. This immediately energizes the solenoid 22 opening the valve V and flushing the bowl. It will be obvious from an in spection of the accompanying drawing and the foregoing description that I have provided a novel and improved type of circuit closing device which overcomes practically all of the disadvantages attendant upon the use of prior devices for a similar purpose. It will be obvious that the platform section 2-l is as good as a continuation of the floor 12-, there being no possible chance of decomposition products and the like reaching the circuit closing elements. In the pro vision of two spring contact arms as shown accommodations for persons of various weights is afforded. Of course, some other conventional forms of circuit closing elements might be employed in this capacity. It will also be obvious that the use of the circuit closing device of my invention is not in the least limited to the adaptation as shown, there being numerous possible applications of the device without change in structure or departure from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, while in the present disclosure of my invention I have described and illustrated a specific construction, I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make .detailed alterations therein which may be found necessary in actual installation, such changes being within the scope of the invention as claimed. The yicldable sealed platform may be used also with mechanical valve actuating means.

lVhat I-claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a floor having an opening, a peripheral ledge in said opening below the floor level, a yielding closure in said opening, supported on said ledge, Waterproof cement sealing the closure in the opening, the middle portion of the closure lying above the floor level, electric spring contacts beneath said closure adapted to be brought into contact to close a circuit by weight on the closure, and a spring normally holding such closure raised.

2. In. combination a supporting body having an opening therein provided with an annular shoulder, supporting stringers, spring circuit-terminals extending from said stringers in superposed relation, spring means mounted above said terminals and having engagement with one of the same, a flexible, depressible member arranged above the spring and adapted to seat on said annular shoulder, and adhesive means for retaining said depressible member in operative position, depression of said member serving to flex said spring to bring said circuit terminals into contact.

3. In combination, a body having an opening therein, a circuit closer within said openin g, a flexible concavo-convex member sensitive to pressure mounted in. said opening and having its margins flush with the plane of the body and normally presenting its convex face beyond the plane of the body, and a compressible member between the circuit closer and said flexiblemember.

4:. In combination, a body having an openingtherein, a circuit closer mounted within said opening, a flexible pressure sensitive member sealed within the opening and forming a continuation of the body, said member having its medial portion normally projecting beyond the plane of the body and its margins flush with the body, and a compressible element between said flexible member and said circuit closer and connected to both, for returning said flexible member to normal position. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of December, A. D. 1916.

JAMES CLAUDE ADELL. 

